E-MU Announces the B-3 Organ Sound Module

(Click for a close-up)

February 15, 2000 -- E-MU / ENSONIQ® has announced the B-3, a 64 note polyphonic, tone wheel organ sound module. E-MU® sound specialists created this all new 32MB sound ROM which delivers the sound and feel of the B-3, sampled direct, and through rotating speakers. The B-3 is packaged in a retro pastel ivory, single rack space package with 12 real time assignable front panel controllers. The product is available starting in February, and has a US retail price of $895.

Listen to the B-3 Demo Sequence (232K)

The samples were taken from the organ owned and played by noted Hammond B-3 aficionado John Novello from the group Niacin. The particular organ was moved into the studio and sampled using the latest technology. The samples have been processed so as to capture all the subtlety, nuances, and expressively of the classic tone wheel organ to ensure that the B-3 performs just like the real thing from your MIDI keyboard. Special software was developed to allow rotating speaker effects to be spun up and spun down independent of note on events. Additionally, a single trigger polyphonic harmonic percussion generator was developed for authentic percussive behavior..

The E-MU B-3 organ module has 64 voices, 2 outputs, and 16 MIDI channels. It is fully upgradeable, allowing the user to add one additional 32MB sound ROM from the selection of ROMs now available for the Proteus' 2000 sound module. In addition, the company has announced a hardware upgrade program that allows the user to upgrade the hardware motherboard to have 128 voices of polyphony, 4 ROM expansion slots, 6 outputs + digital output, and an additional 16 NMI channels. The company also stated that the operating system software in the unit is field upgradeable over the Internet, allowing B-3 users to take advantage of enhancements to the software when they become available.

For more information contact E-MU at www.emu.com.